Glenn Gould Edition - Bach: French Suites, Overture

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Glenn Gould (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Glenn Gould
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (February 7, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000028NL
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,187 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CINQ ETOILES, September 27, 2006

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DAVID BRYSON (Glossop Derbyshire England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Glenn Gould Edition - Bach: French Suites, Overture (Audio CD)

Gould's style in Bach makes no compromises. His fingering is mainly detached and non-legato, there is no use of the sustaining pedal, a tempo once set is adhered to rigidly without rubato, the volume of tone is rarely varied within any given piece, and he occasionally adopts speeds that are unusually fast or unusually slow. I find it pointless to compare him with other interpreters in Bach - we should know what to expect by now and whether we like Bach done like this or not. Myself, I find Gould's Bach compulsive. Bach is the most `absolute' musician of all the great masters, and his infinite eloquence can make itself heard without any overtly `expressive' idiom, although he can deploy that to some effect too when he sees fit. Gould displays to us the composer's `abstract' profile more or less exclusively, and just as the composer's unique greatness shines out unaccountably in this view, so does the greatness of this interpreter. What Gould has in spades is individuality. It's possible to point out the obvious such as his unique clarity and evenness of fingerwork, just as it's possible to offer platitudinous comment on the distinction of the composer's counterpoint. All that is true but superficial. The real greatness of both is much harder to define, but for me it makes a spellbinding combination.

The last two French suites were recorded in early 1971, before Gould's piano suffered damage in transit. The other four date from 1972 and 1973 after the mishap, and the liner note has some interesting comments on the matter from Gould himself. It seems that the instrument's action became heavier consequent on the repairs, and Gould chose to avoid fast tempi rather than let the heavier touch force him into a more legato delivery. The difference is very perceptible to the listener. The tone in suites 1-4 is less rich than in 5 and 6, and the earlier suites feature no rocketing speeds such as Gould takes in the courante of #6. One matter that intrigues me is which parts of the French Overture were done before the accident and which after - honesty compels me to say that so far I haven't been able to tell.

The recording is perfectly adequate if perhaps a bit over-bright - I found I got a more agreeable tone by using a slightly lower volume-setting than I normally listen to. The liner-note is interesting if slightly silly in some ways - we are given a solemn analysis of Gould's supposed interest in various composers as evinced by what he chose to record, and the text is reinforced with a parade of bar-charts. I take Gould's Bach-style as read and I don't wish to act as an advocate for it. For me it's just a matter of whether he performs well or badly within the given parameters of his approach, and I have never yet heard a Bach rendering from him that would come in the latter category. The total playing-time only just tops what could have been accommodated on a single disc, but as this enables us to hear the French Overture as well as the suites I have no problem with it. I have no problem with anything here at all.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars French Suites are great, but buy this for BWV 831, March 16, 1999

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[e-mail] "[e-mail]" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Glenn Gould Edition - Bach: French Suites, Overture (Audio CD)

Though I am a Glenn Gould fan, I actually prefer the French Suites performed by Gavrilov. Gould's performance is very much worth getting, for a different view of the piece. But the real find on these discs is the so-called overture in the French Style. It is actually more like a partita. For BWV 831 alone, this disc is worthwhile.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars French Overtures - BUT OVERTURE IN HE FRENCH STYLE, December 5, 2003

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"beijingfox2" (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Glenn Gould Edition - Bach: French Suites, Overture (Audio CD)

Glen Gould's recordings are always a little bit "special"(!!) - good or bad they are always worth a listen and MOST of the time are stunning, thoughtful, profound and genuinely inspirational with a sublime beauty and obsessive musicality that stays with you for life (no mean feat!!!) requiring many, MANY return listenings. I am a BIG fan of GG but know the shortcomings (including unecessary jarring articulation, occasional sheer confusion in the listeners' ear, misrepresented(?!) contrapunctual thinking, humming etc etc we know it all.....) BUT I have to say that the recording of the Overture in the French Style BWV 831 is probably the most profound, spine-tingling, stunning, addictive, "quasi improvisando" enigmatic, rhapsodic piece of solo instrument playing in the available CD catalogue. If there was a Mona Lisa for piano (or indeed any other instrument-playing THIS IS IT!! Can't say more here. You've got to hear it. Dessert Island Disc No. 1!!!!!!!!! [e-mail]